The Stanley Brothers - Live At New River Ranch

(No Label No #) c2004

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This 'No label' CD was released by Ralph and sold through his fan-club and at gigs. The show is from New River Ranch, Rising Sun, Md. on the 15th May 1960, and although tracks 13-19 are duplicated with Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 2, the source sounds like it is different. To me it sounds like this is at the correct pitch, whereas the tape used on Vol. 1 No. 2 runs slightly fast.

The previous evening, the band had played at Antioch College^[1], in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and had to travel roughly 500 miles overnight to make the show! That probably meant a non-stop road trip, and very little rest, so it is suprising that the band put in a good performance and aren't half- asleep.

Sound quality is mostly excellent, although as usual with field recordings, there is a little extraneous noise, including an occasional slightly annoying cyclic scraping sound from the tape reel.

Live versions of most of the songs can be found on other releases, but I don't think two of the gospel songs (Let The Church Roll On and Paul And Silas) have resurfaced from any other show, and there's also a version of Jim Eanes' Baby Blue Eyes with Curley Lambert on lead vocal.

As well as Stanley Series, Vol. 1 No. 2, other material from this New River Ranch show also appears on The Legendary Stanley Brothers Recorded Live, Vol. 1

• Carter Stanley: guitar, vocal
• Ralph Stanley: banjo, vocal
• Lindy Clear: bass
• Curley Lambert: mandolin (*)
• Ralph Mayo: fiddle

NB: (*) Curley Lambert sings lead on Baby Blue Eyes.

For more detailed breakdown and background to the show, check Gary B. Reid's The Music Of The Stanley Brothers book, pages 107-108 and 147-149.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] A selection from the Antioch College show can be found on The Legendary Stanley Brothers Recorded Live, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, the Live At Antioch College 1960 LP and an nth generation tape from the show:- http://frobbi.org/audio/hamilton/Stanleys-Antioch.html